France has banned child beauty pageants in a bid to curb the ‘hyper-sexualisation’ of children. The new law decrees it illegal for anyone to organise a beauty pageant for under 16-year-olds, with a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine equivalent to £25,000. French Senator Chantal Jouanno, who authored the report ‘Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality’, proposed an amendment to an equality bill introduced by women’s minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem. Senator Jouanno said: ‘Let’s not let our daughters think from such a young age that they will be judged according to their appearance. Let’s not let commercial interest impact on social interest’. The amendment received 196 votes for and 146 against. But an amendment pushing for better regulation of child models was rejected. Senator Jouanno was said to be particularly concerned about a Vogue magazine shoot in 2010 which featured provocative pictures of a ten-year-old girl.

Pray: that this move will lead to children being freed from sexualisation. (1Pet.3:3-4)

More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/france-bans-childrens-beauty-contests-to-curb-sexualisation/